Raw Mamas... - Page 2

[Panserbjorne]

It uses the "classic" raw crust. 11/4 cups almonds, soaked 8-12 hours.
1 cup chopped dated (I always use medjool)
1 T. water 1/2 tsp vanilla
dash cinnamon.
Combine all in a food processor-I generally do the almonds first, then add in the dates. Crust should be moist enought to hold together...if not just add a bit of water. Press into an 8 or9 inch pie pan. You can dehydrate in a warm oven, but I don't.

Filling: 4 cups strawberries, quartered

Binder: 6 dates. pitted and soaked
2 cups quartered strawberries
maple syrup to taste
4 tsp. psyllium or I ripe banana.

Place filling strawberries in the crust. Blend binder berries in processor with dates and date soak water to form a paste. Add maple syrup if necessary (depends on your taste) Then add either psullium or banana with the processor still running. Pour over the filling and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. Serve within 4 hours.
I sometimes reserve extra quartered strawberries to decorate the top. You know, if I'm serving it to someone besides my family because it doesn't last more than 5 minutes!

[momma2finn]

would any other raw mamas mind sharing some favorite recipes/meal ideas? i need some yummy starting points!

[mama_frog]

Sunflower pate

1 1/2 cups hulled sunflower seeds, soaked overnight, rinsed to remove white inner hulls, then sprouted for 2-4 hours
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 Tbsp Braggs
garlic to taste

Puree all in food processor. Use as spread on crackers or dip for veggies.
This came from Nomi Shannon's book, it's yummy. You can also add seasonings to it, or chopped red pepper, grated carrot, etc.

Otherwise, I tend not to really make "recipes", I just cut up some fruit or some veg and eat them, lol. Sometimes I'll make a smoothie. I find I usually like to have sunflower pate in the fridge, along with some soaking almonds.

I've been keeping a food log as I transition to raw, so you can see what I eat here, if you are more interested:
http://mama-frog.blogspot.com/

[danieliausmama]

I want that recipe too! Thanks for the other ones too - we have some birthdays coming up, and I can also make some for raw food potluck- I am very lucky to live in Los Angeles, where raw foods are very popular. I waited for Nature's First Law book 3 months, because 24 people put it on hold in library before me!
As for dehydrator recipes - they all take long times, because it is drying, not cooking. My son also refuses to understand that the crakers won't be ready untill morning, when I put them in before bedtime. But you don't really need dehydrated foods - they loose around 25% nutritients compared to fresh food. They are good for though, because it helps me to stay raw-their taste reminds cooked. And they are good for taking on the trips and outings.
The difference between vegan and vegan raw is that raw is not heated over 115 or in even 100 degrees. For me 115 is too much - not raw enough for my taste.
I am raw now for 8 weeks and finally started loosing some weight again. So it is not true, that you can not overeat raw, I simply stopped eating after my son goes to bed.
Now I sleep better and lost 3 more pounds(now I am 125 pounds). I do not care so much about the weight, but I still have some fat deposits, so I was wondering.
Did you mamas lost a lot of weight? I heard some rawfooders loose a lot the first half year and then slowly put some back on. Not in my case. I do eat tons of greens in smoothies and salads, and they tend to replace old celles much quicker.

[danieliausmama]

Oops, while I posted You put the pie recipe up! Thanks so much - sounds very delicious, I think I will go with this one for my birthday. I will add some raw chocolate though!

[momma2finn]

nak
mamafrog-great blog!! its good for me to see how easy ans yummy it is to eat raw! approx. how many pounds of salad do you need a week? how bout fruit?

Also, not sure what you mean about hulled in the sunflower pate recipe. can you explain? thank you!

[Panserbjorne]

It's so funny, I never intended to be raw. I was actually told repeatedly (by different docs) that it would be a death sentence. I have pretty significant digestive issues-so I always avoided raw fruit and veggies like the plague. Then I found Dr. Joel Fuhrman. He's who turned me on to a vegan diet and he advocates mostly raw. On his plan you basically aim for a pound of raw fruit, a pound of raw veggies and a pound of cooked veggies a day. This is along with at least a cup of beans and various nuts and seeds. I started the diet because his research made sense, but it scared me-I didn't want to get sicker than I was-KWIM? It was unbelievable though! I recovered 90 percent within the first month. That was enough for me! I'm actually a hundred percent better now and I owe it all to finding raw! Needless to say it keeps me pretty committed I am working to get closer to all raw, but as it stands now the only "cooking" I really do is at dinnertime. I'm thinking of phasing that out, but it's difficult because I'm craving stick to your bones food. I'm pregnant, nursing, and it is winter in New England. Any tips on how to get over the psychological aspects of heavy food? Or Good raw choices to satisfy those needs?

[Panserbjorne]

Mama Frog-forgot to say I love your blog. Thanks for posting it, it's giving me inspiration. Sometimes you "forget" about certain options...it always helps to see what other people are eating.

[mama_frog]

Thanks for the nice comments about my blog.

momma2fin - I buy raw, hulled sunflower seeds, which means the hard black outer hull is removed. Then, after you soak them, there is a thin, papery, white inner hull that also comes off. If you pour the seeds into a big bowl and fill with water, you can skim off those little inner hull pieces, and the pate will last longer. You could just leave them, it doesn't affect the taste, but it will spoil much faster.
I posted my grocery list on my blog yesterday, not sure if you saw that. I'd guess I eat 2 or 3 heads of romaine a week, and probably a pound of baby spinach or other mixed greens from Earthbound Farms. That's for my family of 2 adults, a 3 year old and a 6 year old. I'm going to keep track of it, though, and post the next time grocery shop, so I'll know how long each thing lasts me.

Elisabeth - funny, I think that's a really common path to take to raw. People start out trying out vegetarianism, then veganism, with maybe a short side trip to macrobiotics, and then they head to raw. I remember thinking how raw foodies must be nuts, and I could never eat like that. Why would anyone want to? Lol. Then this past summer, we ate a lot of less than optimal foods while we were camping (nothing really bad, just canned beans, canned tomatoes and minute rice, but it left me really craving fresh food). I told dp when we got home that I was just going to eat fresh fruit and veg for a while. I'm nursing, though, and I wanted to be sure I could meet my nutritional requirements, so I started looking for a diet out there that could prove to me I could get what I needed in the way I felt that my body wanted it. That's when I found Eat to Live (Fuhrman). I followed that roughly for a little while, but the sheer volume was hard to keep up with, and I started finding the cooked part of it really unpalatable. That began a slide into raw.

I find now that raw food tastes SO good. Cooked food looks bland. Even cooked veg just don't look as vibrant or delicious. Breads and other starches (which used to be the mainstay of my diet) aren't as appealing either. I'm losing my sweet tooth. I'm pretty much just following what my body says, though, if it really wanted something cooked, I wouldn't hold back, just because it isn't "raw". I make my family dinner and a big salad for me, and I'll sit down with them to eat, so sometimes I have a taste of what they're having. Like last night, they had vegan shepherd's pie - used to LOVE that - had a little bit of it, but it just tasted like the seasonings, and then it felt really heavy. My salad, though, Mmm was that good, sprouted beans and peppers and seeds.

[ankh]

Originally Posted by elisabeth

It's so funny, I never intended to be raw. I was actually told repeatedly (by different docs) that it would be a death sentence. I have pretty significant digestive issues-so I always avoided raw fruit and veggies like the plague. Then I found Dr. Joel Fuhrman. He's who turned me on to a vegan diet and he advocates mostly raw. On his plan you basically aim for a pound of raw fruit, a pound of raw veggies and a pound of cooked veggies a day. This is along with at least a cup of beans and various nuts and seeds. I started the diet because his research made sense, but it scared me-I didn't want to get sicker than I was-KWIM? It was unbelievable though! I recovered 90 percent within the first month. That was enough for me! I'm actually a hundred percent better now and I owe it all to finding raw! Needless to say it keeps me pretty committed I am working to get closer to all raw, but as it stands now the only "cooking" I really do is at dinnertime. I'm thinking of phasing that out, but it's difficult because I'm craving stick to your bones food. I'm pregnant, nursing, and it is winter in New England. Any tips on how to get over the psychological aspects of heavy food? Or Good raw choices to satisfy those needs?

Elisabeth we did have an "Eat to live" thread somewhere, We took a bit of a break for the holidays... Off to see where it's at....

[doitmyselfmama]

Anyone out there raising raw kids? I was a raw foodist for over a year but stopped when I became too poor and busy to keep it up. I think I could manage now, but what I'm really interested in is keeping ds raw for as long as possible after I start him on solids. It seems a shame to plug up his healthy intestinal tract with cooked foods.

[danieliausmama]

Any tips on how to get over the psychological aspects of heavy food? Or Good raw choices to satisfy those needs?[/QUOTE]

Well, I am raw just eight weeks now, and I had bad cravings just twice so far, once for the chicken salad I was making for my husband for dinner - that was very bad, but I solved it with avocados wrapped in cabbage leaves and seasoned with Bragg's Aminos instead of salt. One did not help, after the second I was satisfied completely. The other time I wanted soup, which is the hardest thing for me to give up - that time I simply thought about what happens if i go back to cooked - to I want for the short several minutes of instant pleasure to get back heavy feeling after meals, low energy, too much weight, not the best skin, bloating, etc. That worked.
If you crave sweets, I can eat sesame seeds or make sesame seed milk. You know, that seeds and nuts need to be soaked, because of enzyme inhibitors in them. After that you can either sprout them or just simply blend up with some filtered water in the blender and you have milk(or you can use raw tahini, if you can get one).
And again - make yourself a nice green smoothie - that always keeps cravings at bay.

[Planta]

Doitmyselfmama,

It would be so great if you could start your baby on raw foods! I regret so much not discovering raw earlier! I started my ds on the conventional advice of avoiding raw stuff. Such a pity! The foods that kids get early in life influence a lot the later preferences.
My advice would be to start giving your baby any sweet fruits or veggies that he is atracted to, in their raw and very ripe form (and of course preferably organic). I would stay away from any grains and, if you think you must give something cooked, this can be veggie purees (such as carrot steamed and mashed - my ds's first food. He liked it a lot, but I still regret it). Later you could introduce almond milk.
Children learn by imitating. Your kid will want to eat what you eat, so that's the best way to influence him - a motivation for you to stick to good things. I remember reading a piece of advice for adults in search of a good diet: "would you feed it to a baby?".
What is also of vital importance is never to force or coax a baby to eat what he doesn't want to - this is valid on any diet. I am so sad when I think there are lots of young kids that are labeled "poor eaters" because they don't want to touch any food (which is in fact any cooked food). They would eat fruits with pleasure, but parents don't see them as food and even think they can spoil their kid's appetite. So they are forced to accept a diet that they instinctively know is bad.

Good luck with your raw journey!

[AmazoniaBelly]

Originally Posted by danieliausmama

HOW IT IS GOING RAW MAMAS?
Did you try any raw cake recipe? I would like to make one for upcoming birthday.

I really enjoy making RAW Carrot cake and Raw Apple pie....both got rave reviews from all who were lucky enough to get a piece.

I have a few good cookbooks...RAW (collected recipes from the Raw foods community) and Juliano's book (because I have a crush on him)...unfortunately most of his recipes require dozens of ingredients.

[callmemama]

Ohhhhh! Raw Apple Pie! Will you share your recipe please?

[Panserbjorne]

Could those with raw toddlers/pre-schoolers (or who have been there) share some ideas? I find I have a hard time getting enough variety in my kids. I'd like to offer them more options.

[danieliausmama]

I have a 2.5 year old and he eats a lot lately - he can't wait untill I finish making a salad or peeling an orange. He basically eats what I eat, and sometimes, unfortunately, what my husband eats. But my husband is actually getting better and one day we drove to the store to get salad ingredients, because he was craving it!
Well, right now my son loves sprouts,scallions(in the salad), cucumbers, lettuce, carrots, kiwis, green smoothies, my made dehydrated crakers(soaked flaxseeds, sunflower seeds, bell pepper, onion), apples, oranges, banana. I don't know if I am not forgeting anything? Oh, he loves to graze on celery sticks.

[danieliausmama]

Originally Posted by AmazoniaBelly

I really enjoy making RAW Carrot cake and Raw Apple pie....both got rave reviews from all who were lucky enough to get a piece.

I have a few good cookbooks...RAW (collected recipes from the Raw foods community) and Juliano's book (because I have a crush on him)...unfortunately most of his recipes require dozens of ingredients.

Give us your pie recipes, please. I found Juliano's book to be too complicated just like you- I read it from the library. Is that other Raw book has an author or can you give me the exact title?

[*green*faery*]

You mamas are so awesome! It gives me hope that I can do this for longer then a month or so. I have several recipe books, and yeah, Julianos has lots of ingredients, although I have tried a few of his things. I made the raw falafel's once and I must have done something wrong, they were awful!

One of my favorite things is raw pie. It's pretty simple, make the crust with I think about 2 cups of your favorite nuts, I usually use almonds and pecans. Blend them in a food processor until it's powder then slowly add dates until you get the right constancy, add some cinnamon. Then I form a crust in a pie pan. Then I cut up yummy fruit like mangos and berries and put it in the crust. It's simple and soooo good. There's also a whipped topping I've made, but I'll have to find the recipe.
I just made these butternut squash cookies~

http://www.rawfamily.com/recipes.htm

they taste ok, but my dh loves them!

I went to my midwife (she a midwife through a hospital) my blood pressure was a little high, she told me I had to loose weight and she wants to see me in 6 mo. and check my bp again & stuff. I'm like 100lb overweight, it sucks to think I need to loose 100 freaking pounds! I'm hoping this will motivate me even more to eat raw! We are starting 100% on Feb 1st, I can't wait! I've been eating a lot less and I'm so ready to loose weight!! I am breastfeeding my 10 week old and would like to feed him raw once he starts eating. I've been veggie for about 12y, and when we have done raw in the past I don't usually detox very hard, so hopefully baby won't have to endure to many toxins. I've got to go nurse baby and go to sleep, goodnight

[mama_frog]

My kids aren't 100% raw, they often have something cooked for dinner. C likes bread, but L could easily be raw (she's 3). Give her a choice, and every time she'll choose fruit or veg. Now and then she likes something bready, too, though. Both of them prefer their veggies raw, rather than cooked. I believe kids are really in tune with their bodies, and so I won't restrict them if they honestly want some type of food. My kids generally make healthy choices, though.

Let's see, what tips can I think of? In the morning, the kids have fruit. Or some smoothie, if I make one. I like to have a bunch of different types of cut fruits and veg hanging around in the fridge, and that's what L will snack on with me during the day. Sometimes we'll do up some almond butter, raisin, coconut and cocoa balls to keep in the fridge for sweet cravings. I always have apples, oranges, bananas, and grapes out on the counter, free for snacking. We always have a few things sprouting. If we go out anywhere, I bring trail mix (my own mix - sometimes walnuts and figs, sometimes dried cherries and hazelnuts, sometimes raisins and almonds, you get the picture) and fruit. C takes cut veg with hummus, fruit, and some nuts to school. Usually I give him something bready, too, naan with chutney, tortilla chips with salsa or guac, raw almond butter sandwiches, etc. At dinner, I always make a huge salad, and everyone usually has that first. I make my own dressings using Udo's oil. That way they get mostly filled up on the good stuff, and then they will have steamed veg, some kind of whole grain, and usually something proteiny (beans, lentils, etc). I give them a multivitamin most days (when I remember).

My baby (almost 1 year old) eats banana, avocado, grated cucumber, finely grated carrot and sweet peppers, tahini, grated or pureed apple and pear, berries, mango, and he has also had apricot and nectarine. That's all I can think of right now. He's also still breastfeeding.

Our local library has that Juliano book, as well as Nomi Shannon's book, and one by the Boutenko kids. I'm not huge on faking cooked food - I don't have a dehydrator, although maybe in the future I may feel that I need one. I find that if I try to imitate SAD foods, I expect the imitation to taste like the SAD version, and it generally doesn't. I love fresh foods and their combinations, not because they resemble something else, but because they are good in their own right. Juliano is trying to sell it, from what I can see, to make it appealing to the masses, and personally i don't need that. I suppose it's a good way to get the raw message out there, though. Nomi Shannon's book is great for staples, and there is good information in it about food combining and a sample menu. The Boutenko book looks the most practical, although I've only just glanced through it. Is that RAW compilation book any good? The one with recipes from all kind of people? Any other good books? I've seen the Carol Alt one at Chapters, but I don't like that she advocates eating raw animal products.